START SHOPPING NOW
Weight Management
WHAT'S NEW?
Quick Product Guide
Specials
Accessories
Free Gifts/Catalog
30 Day
Money Back Guarantee
Privacy Policy
Find Local Distributor
Other Countries
PRODUCT SUPPORT
Weight Loss Directions
Product Recommendations
Eating Guide
Product Recipes
Why Get Healthy
Before & After
Our Pictures
Weight Charts
Cut Calories
FREE TOOLS
Free Recipes
Free Diets
Carbohydrate &
Calorie Counter
Vitamins, Minerals
Herbs & Supplements
Conversions
INCOME
Extra Income
Become a Distributor
Discount Club
Distributor Center
Add Your Link
Our Partners
PAYMENT
METHODS
USA
Money Orders/Checks
 |
|
|
Herbs ~ Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
The medicinal use of milk thistle can be traced back thousands of years to the times of the Greeks and the Romans.Today, researchers have completed more than 300 scientific studies that attest to the benefits of this herb, particularly for treating liver ailments.
| COMMON USES |
WHAT IT IS |
FOUND IN HERBALIFE PRODUCTS
|
- Protects the liver from toxins, including drugs, poisons, and chemicals.
- Treats liver disorders, such as cirrhosis and hepatitis.
- Reduces liver damage from excessive alcohol.
- Aids in the treatment and prevention of gallstones.
- Helps clear psoriasis.
| Known by its botanical name, Silybum marianum, as well as by its principal active ingredient, silymarin, milk thistle is a member of the sunflower family.The purple flowers and milky white leaf veins of this herb, which early settlers brought from Europe to North America, are common sight along the East Coast and in California; the plant also grows as a weed in other parts of the United States and around the world.It blooms from June through August, and the shiny black seeds used for medicinal purposes are collected at the end of summer.
| |
| FORMS |
WHAT IT DOES |
LATEST FINDINGS
|
- Capsule
- Tablet
- Tincture
- Softgel
| Milk thistle is one of the most extensively studied and documented herbs in use today.Scientific research continues to validate its healing powers, particularly for the treatment of liver-related disorders.Most of its effectiveness stems from a complex of three liver-protecting compounds, collectively known as silymarin, which constitutes 4% to 6% of the ripe seeds.
| Milk thistle may one day prove to be an important weapon in the battle against skin cancer.Researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland found that when the active ingredient, silymarin, was applied to the skin of mice, 75% fewer skin tumors resulted following exposure to ultraviolet radiation.More studies are needed to see if it has a similar effect in humans. |
| CAUTION! |
MAJOR BENEFITS |
DID YOU KNOW
|
- Any liver disease requires careful evaluation and the supervision of a physician.
- Reminder: If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.
| Among the most important benefits of milk thistle is its ability to fortify the liver, which is one of the body's most important organs, second in size only to the skin.The liver processes nutrients, many drugs, chemical pollutants, and alcohol.Milk thistle helps enhance and strengthen this vital organ by preventing the depletion of glutathione, an amino acid-like compound that is essential to the detoxifying process.What's more, studies show milk thistle can increase glutathione concentration by up to 35%.This herb is also an effective gatekeeper, limiting the number of toxins the liver processes at any given time. Milk thistle is a powerful antioxidant as well.Even more potent than vitamins C and E, it helps prevent damage from highly reactive free-radical molecules.Furthermore, it promotes the regeneration of healthy, new liver cells, which replace old and damaged ones.Milk thistle eases a range of serious liver ailments, including viral infections (hepatitis) and scarring of the liver (cirrhosis).This herb is so potent that it's sometimes given in an injectable form in the emergency room to combat the life-threatening, liver-obliterating effects of poisonous mushrooms.In addition, because excessive alcohol depletes glutathione, milk thistle can aid in protecting the livers of alcoholics and those recovering from alcohol abuse.
| Milk thistle is not very soluble in water, so teas made from the seeds usually contain few of its liver-protecting ingredients. |
| POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS |
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS |
GUIDELINES FOR USE
| | Virtually no side effects have been attributed to the use of milk thistle, which is considered one of the safest herbs on the market.However, in some people it may have a slight laxative effect for a day or two.
| In cancer patients, milk thistle limits the potential for drug-induced damage to the liver after chemotherapy treatments, and it speeds recovery by hastening removal of toxic substances that can accumulate in the body.The herb also reduces the inflammation and may slow the skin cell proliferation associated with psoriasis.It may be useful for endometriosis (the most common cause of infertility in women) because it helps the liver process the hormone estrogen, which at high levels can make pain and other symptoms worse.Finally, milk thistle can be beneficial in preventing or treating gallstones by improving the flow of bile, the cholesterol-laden digestive juice that travels from the liver through the gallbladder and into the intestine, where it helps to digest fats.
| Milk thistle seems most effective when taken between meals.Its benefits may be noticeable within a week or two, though long-term treatment is often needed for chronic conditions.The herb appears to be safe, even for pregnant and lactating women.No interactions with other medications have been noted.
|
|
|
Independent Herbalife Distributor
of (www.Herbalife.com)
|
"Results not typical"
(c) Copyright 1998-2006 Herbalicious.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|
|